HomeService areaSt. Petersburg
Pinellas County, FloridaHome elevators and lift service in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg’s waterfront neighborhoods are being rebuilt one story higher. Modern Lifts installs and services home elevators, stairlifts and platform lifts from Old Northeast to the Pinellas beaches.
- Florida registered elevator company
- All major residential brands
- Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm
Shore Acres to Pass-a-Grille, homes are going up.
Helene put more than six feet of water into parts of St. Petersburg in September 2024, and Shore Acres, Snell Isle, Venetian Isles and Coquina Key took the worst of it. Many owners are now rebuilding or raising their homes, and the new house usually has parking and storage below and the living space above. That makes an elevator, or an outdoor platform lift, part of the plan from day one.
Elsewhere in the city it’s a mix: historic homes in Old Northeast and Crescent Lake with steep staircases, condos converted to townhomes, and bungalows where a stairlift or a raised-entry lift lets someone stay put. On the beaches, from St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille up to Madeira Beach, nearly everything new is built on pilings.
What St. Petersburg homes need most.
Elevators for raised homes
Elevators designed for homes built above flood elevation, with equipment kept out of the flood zone.
Outdoor platform lifts
Weather-rated lifts from the driveway to a raised front door, an affordable option for raised homes.
Storm inspection and repair
Testing and repair for elevators and lifts that took on water, with a plain report on what to replace.
What works in St. Petersburg homes.
In Shore Acres, Snell Isle, Venetian Isles and the beach towns, the right equipment depends on where it can sit relative to flood elevation. Interior elevators with the machine above the flood line, and exterior platform lifts built from materials that stand up to salt air, are the two most common answers. Most raised rebuilds have room for a conventional hoistway if it’s planned early.
In Old Northeast, Kenwood, Crescent Lake and the older neighborhoods, the homes weren’t built with lifts in mind. A curved or straight stairlift is often the simplest fix. A shaftless elevator can work where there’s a closet or corner that lines up between floors, and a platform lift handles a few steps at the front or back door.
Permits in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg has its own building department, and so do St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Gulfport, Seminole and Pinellas Park. Tierra Verde and other unincorporated areas go through Pinellas County. Every one of them looks closely at anything below base flood elevation, and we design the installation and prepare the application to suit.
Storms and salt
Helene’s surge and Milton’s winds two weeks apart left a lot of St. Pete equipment flooded or neglected. An elevator that sat in salt water should be inspected before it’s used, and a repaired one deserves a closer look than a quick restart. In new work, we keep the controller, drive and wiring above flood level and use corrosion-resistant parts outdoors.
What our customers say
A few words from homeowners whose lifts we have installed and looked after.
Professional and quality service. Repeat customer.
PBPete BianchettaNaples, FL
I found Modern Lifts to be knowledgeable and friendly.
MEMarc EisemanNaples, FL
Great job and nice guy!
JBJohn BakerSanibel, FL
Looking after lifts in St. Petersburg.
We service the major residential elevator and lift brands, including equipment someone else installed. A first visit covers the rails, drive, door locks, controller and safety devices, with a plain account of what’s fine and what’s worn. Most owners then put the lift on a regular maintenance schedule, which matters more than usual this close to the water.
What a home elevator costs in St. Petersburg.
New home elevator, installed
$25,000to$60,000
Stairlifts and platform lifts cost less.
Where yours lands depends on the drive type, the number of stops, the hoistway and the cab finish. In St. Petersburg, flood rules shape the price. Equipment that has to sit above base flood elevation, or tolerate water, costs more than a standard inland install, and every extra stop adds to the total. An outdoor platform lift is usually the most affordable way to reach a raised entry. A stairlift is the least expensive option for an older two-story home.
Our home elevator cost guide breaks down each factor, and the stairlift cost and funding guide covers VA, Medicaid and other help with paying for a lift.
How a project runs
In-home visit
We measure, check the structure and power, and talk through the options. It’s free.
Written quote and design
You get the equipment, price and schedule in writing. Choose a finish in the cab designer.
Permit and installation
We prepare the application for the City of St. Petersburg, your beach city or Pinellas County and coordinate with your builder if there is one.
Inspection and handover
After final inspection we show you how everything works and set up a maintenance plan if you want one.
Where we work in and around St. Petersburg.
Not listed? We cover all of south and central Pinellas County. Call 727.626.5775 and ask.
- Old Northeast
- Snell Isle
- Shore Acres
- Venetian Isles
- Coquina Key
- Placido Bayou
- Crescent Lake
- Kenwood
- Downtown St. Pete
- Pasadena
- Bayway Isles
- Tierra Verde
- Gulfport
- St. Pete Beach
- Pass-a-Grille
- Treasure Island
- Madeira Beach
- Redington Beach
- Indian Shores
- Seminole
- Pinellas Park
Nearby: Clearwater · Tampa · Sarasota · full service area
Questions from St. Petersburg homeowners.
We’re raising our Shore Acres home. Should we add an elevator now?
If there’s any chance you’ll want one, plan it now. Framing a hoistway during a raise or rebuild costs far less than adding one later, and even a framed, empty shaft keeps the option open.
Can a lift be installed outside a home on pilings?
Yes. Exterior platform lifts are built for salt air and weather and run from ground level to a raised entry. They need a level pad and power, and on the beaches they must meet local flood rules.
What happens to the elevator when a hurricane is coming?
Send the cab to the top landing and switch it off at the disconnect. That keeps the cab and its electrical parts above the water if the lower level floods. We walk every customer through it at handover.
Do you service elevators installed by other companies?
Yes. We service the major residential brands and can usually source parts for older equipment.
How much does a home elevator cost in St. Petersburg?
Most new home elevators we install cost $25,000 to $60,000. The number of stops, the drive type, the hoistway and the cab finish decide where a home in St. Petersburg lands. Stairlifts and platform lifts cost less. We give a written quote after a free in-home visit.
Does Medicare pay for a home elevator or stairlift?
Original Medicare does not, because it treats elevators and stairlifts as home modifications rather than medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans, VA benefits and Florida Medicaid long-term care can help in certain cases. Our stairlift cost and funding guide explains each option.
Our services in St. Petersburg.
Home elevators
Hydraulic, traction, shaftless and glass elevators, designed around the house.
See home elevators
Repair
Diagnosis and repair for elevators that have stopped, misleveled or started making new noises.
See repairStorm damage
Preparation before a storm and restoration after one.
See storm damageReady when you are.
Quotes and in-home consultations are free. If your lift is down, call and we’ll get a technician moving.
or call 727.626.5775 · Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm